Automatic grab-bucket



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fel 9, 1954 yMERRE JEAN-MARIE THEoDoRE ALLARD 2,668,377

AUTOMATIC GRAB-BUCKET Filed Feb. 8, 1949 Feb. 9

, 1954 PIERRE JEAN-MARIE THEODORE ALLARD 2,668,377

AUTOMATIC GRAB-BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1949 Feb 9, 1954 PIERRE JEAN-MARIE THEoDoRE ALLARD 2,668,377

AUTOMATIC GRAB-BUCKET Filed Feb. 8, 1949 4 Sheets-5h63?. 3

i M JM Fel 9, l954- PIERRE JEAN-MARIE THEODQRE ALLARD 2,668,377

AUTOMATIC GRAB-BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 8, 1949 Pulevre {Sean-Maha. Theodore N l ard lNVENTOE my ATT-ys/ Patented Feb. 9, 1954 AEN-'I' OFFICE AUTOMATIC GRAB-BUCKET Pierre- J can-Marie Theodore Allard,

Eaubonne, France- Applieationrebruary s, 1949,'seria1 No. '75.1861

Claims priority,v application AFrance v February 11, -1948 Y 7 Claims.- l i In all `the heretofore.' existing types of 'grabbuckets, the tting thereof to the `various types of liftingigear'requires special mechanisms'which are .totally difierentfrom rone'another and which. involve extensive modiiications' in .the construction ofthe bucket, so that such mechanisms cannotbe'manufactured by mass production.v

Furthermore, .the .closing mechanisms, cables or rodsg' are exposed toth'e openair, i. e. are inr direct`contact either with 'the' goodsV or. with the substances in ,suspensiongid the" air due to the manipulation' of" powdery' goods. Consequently,v there. is a fairly .large amount of wear ofi the variousparts 'of .the mechanism.

The invention haslforiitszobject an actuating mechanism Whichjis` adapted 'on thei oney hand to'be used such' as it isv or 'withinsignicant modications which canbe' readily effected irre spectvel ofthe' arrangement of the `cablesland` lifting'gear; and. on'the` 'otherjhand to' been-A closed v.in a duid-tight' casing forming an Voil bath,4

whickshields all the"actuatingl'members fromF dust orv substances in suspension in thefair...

According to the. invention, the mechanism comprises a central box-likemember to which-the two bucketorvl grappling .elementsfjof .the bucket are lpivotally connected andwhich supports a rocking toothed quadrantl which 'is adapted to. mesh with' 'one' orv more pinions connected .to the member for actuating the bucket yelements and is connectedto `the pivots of saidv bucketelements the-bucket elements, "the ends' of the shafts'of...

the closing drum and Lof the pivots of the systems of opening levers being. .'journalled inV bearings supported by said casings.

The device thusconstructed can be mounted on all types of lgrab-buckets and` its-.arrangement -1 furthermore enables; the lifting .and .opening cables, v.wlratever the number and the position thereof, to be connected tothe bucketl in such a manner that they are always locatedsubstanfv tially inthe axis of the bucket, thereby avoiding the use of deiiecting members and "decreasing their wear.

Otherffeatuiesuvill become apparent from j the 'ensuing-description;

2 In the accompanying drawings which are given solelyby Way of example:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of one embodiment of the device according tothe inven tion in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation correspondingfto` Fig'. 1, .partly in section. along the lineZ-Z of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a half planview corresponding'to Fig.. 1, `partly in section along the line-3 3 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a similarview to Fig. 1 ini-the open position;

Fg. 5 isa side-elevation ofian auxiliary device;

Fig..6 is .a front elevationfcorresponding to Fig,.5;r

Figs. '7 and 8 are diagrammatic. plan views of two methods of mountingthe. device of.Fig.-1; Fig. .9 isa similarview ofFigzfl on a smaller.V`

scale, ci another-embodimentof the device;

Fig.y 10 is a plan-Viewcorresponding to Fig. .9;

Fig.A 11. is a fragmentary vertical section of. another` embodiment in ytheclosed position;

Fig. lla vis `a fragmentary viewcorresponding..

to Fig. 'l1 at an enlarged scale;

Figgllb is a fragmentary. view corresponding to Fig. ll'inanoth'er position ofv the device;

Fig.12 is a fragmentary. section of the device f.

of Figgll in the openposition;

Fig. '.12a. is a fragmentary View corresponding to Fig'. 12 in another position of the device;-

Fig. 13 is an elevationalview of a detailv of the device of Figs. 11 and 12;

Fien-14 is a Vertical 'section of another embodi-v ment.

closing cables and drums). of oneand the same device which,.as.wi1l 'be explained hereinafter,y

can be originally constructed in such a manner as to enable it to be used .Without-modifying vits members in any of the 'casesconsidered f In` Figs. 1 to 4, an embodiment is shown that f corresponds to an actuatingmechanism.comprising a central lifting and closing cable ,-and. two opening .cables arrangedv on either side trans-- Vversely with respect vtothe opening movement of` the bucket elements.4

I is.the.lifting and closingr cable, 2 .are 'the-Y opening cables. Thecentral box-like member to.r

which the grappling` elementsS arepivotally con nected `is'OrmedV by tWo'rlo kgitiidinal,.casingsil braced bytwo tubes Y5 forming'housin'g's 'for sta-Y Inth'e.` foregoing vdescription of the ligures,

' mention has been made of several` embodiments. of. the device according to the invention; lbut it'U would be more correct to speakof several methv ods "of adapting, according tothe nature and the. position of the actuating members (openingand tionary shafts 6 on which are journalled, preferably by means of needle-bearings, cylindrical blocks or shafts 1. Each grappling element 3 is xed at the top of its two side plates to the blocks 1, for example by means of a mortise and tenen 8 with clamping by means of a bolt 9.

At the point where each block 1 passes through it, the wall of the casing 4 is reinforced at I0 and forms a bearing with a fluid-tight joint I I.

The lifting cable I winds on a drum I2 supported by a shaft I3, the two ends of which pass through each of the casings 4 so as to be journalled in said casings. On each of the ends of the shaft I3, which is confined in the casing 4, is keyed a pinion I4 that meshes with internal teeth I5 provided on the edge of an arcuate groove I5 formed in a quadrant I1 adapted to rock on a shaft I 8 supported by the casing 4. Said pinion I4 is completely housed in the groove IB. At two points of the quadrant I1, which are eccentric and opposite with respect to the shaft I8, are mounted two pins 23 to which are pivotally connected two double connecting rods 2I, the other ends of which are pivotally connected to pins 22 supported by cranks 23 secured to the blocks 1.

It will immediately be understood that any rotation of the quadrant I1 about its shaft IB in either direction, by means of the connecting rods 2I, the cranks 23 and the blocks 1, produces a corresponding rotation of the grappling elements 3 about their pivots 6.

The end of each opening cable 2 is fixed to the free end of a lever` 24 secured to a sleeve 25 keyed on a shaft 26 which is parallel to the shafts 6 and I3 and which like them, is rotatably mounted in the casings 4. On each of the ends of the shaft 23, which is confined in a casing 4, is keyed a second sleeve 21 secured to a lever 28 which forms a crank with the lever 24 and the free end of which acts, by means of a pin 29, as a pivot for a connecting rod 30, the other end of which is pivotally connected to an eccentric point 3l of the quadrant I1, said point 3l being so located that a rotation in the direction f (Fig. 4) of the lever 24 causes the quadrant I1 to rotate in the opposite direction to that which is imparted to it by the closing cable I as it unwinds, i. e. when the drum I2 and the pinion I4 are rotating in the direction f1.

The operation of the device is obvious: having placed the bucket in the open position on a heap of materials, as shown in Fig. 4, the cables 2 are slackened and the cable I is pulled, the drum I2 rotates in the direction f1 and the quadrant I1 rocks in the direction f2, causing by means of the connecting rods 2I, the grappling elements 3 to close together, i. e. the bucket to close, said bucket then being lifted by the cable I. During this time, the rotation of the quadrant II' has caused the system of levers 30, 28, 24 to rotate about the pivot 26, the levers 24 being moved downwards in the opposite direction to f and assuming the position of Fig. l.

In order to obtain the opening of the bucket, it is only necessary, after slackening the cable I, to pull the cables 2, thereby causing the lever 24 to rotate in the direction f and consequently the quadrant I1 to rock in the opposite direction to fz, which causes the bucket elements to open and the drum I2 to rotate in the opposite direction to f and thus wind the necessary length of the cable I for the opening movement.

In Figs. 5 and 6 an auxiliary device is shown that enables the actuating mechanisms to be wear.

4 released during the manipulation of the full bucket. In this position, the whole weight of the bucket is transmitted to the cable I by means of said mechanisms (connecting rods 2I, quadrant I1, pinion 24 and drum I2) and therefore produces strains on same which are unnecessary as regards the operation and harmful as regards The purpose of the device of Figs. 5 and 6 is to effect the transmission of the weight of the closed bucket directly to the lifting cable I by means of the drum I2. For this purpose, on a lateral ange 32 secured to the drum I2 is provided an abutment 33 which is adapted to engage the nose of a pawl 34 which is so mounted as to rock with the shaft 26 either rigidly or preferably semi-rigidly with the interpolation of a spring 35. The position of the abutment 33 is so calculated that it only encounters the pawl 34 which is resting against the ange 32 when the lever 24 is at the bottom of its closing travel so that the bucket is closed. At the instant of opening, the

movement of the lever 24 in the direction of f automatically produces the retraction of the pawl 34 thereby releasing the drum I2 and enabling the cable I to be wound.

It will be seen that when the pawl 34 is engaged with the abutment 33, the drum I2 is rigidly connected to the shaft 23 and to the casings 4 and the lifting force is therefore directly transmitted to the stationary members of the bucket without passing through the actuating mechanisms.

In the example which has just been described, the constant elements which exist in all the methods of adapting the bucket are:

The casings 4, the tubes 5, the pivots Ii, the blocks I and the devices for connecting them to the bucket elements 3, the shaft I3, the shaft 26, the pinions I4, the quadrants I1 and the linkage 2I, 23 and 28, 3B. All these elements form a standard unit, all the moving parts of which are shielded from the dust inside the duid-tight casings 4.

In Figs. 7 and 8, two different methods of adapting the device of Fig. 1 are shown, in the case of a hoist with two lifting or closing cables and two opening cables located in the same plane at right angles to the direction of opening of the bucket.

In this case the device is provided with two drums I2 which are mounted on the existing shaft I3 in such a manner as to be located, according to the respective position of the cables, at the centre and between the levers 24, or at the sides, the levers 24 being located at the. centre.

In Figs. 9 and 10, a method of adapting the device is shown in the case of a hoist comprising two lifting cables in a plane parallel to the direction of opening of the bucket and two opening cables in a plane at right angles thereto.

In this case, a second shaft similar to the shaft I3 is arranged between the casings 4 and carries a second drum 31 located at the centre in alignment with the drum I 2. The shaft 36 drives two pinions 38 which are arranged like the pinions I4 in the casings 4 and, for facilitating mounting thevquadrant I1 is reversed, the pinion 33 meshing with the internal teeth I5 and the pinion I4 meshing with external teeth provided at 39 on the quadrant I1 opposite the teeth I5. One of the connecting rods 2i is replaced by a bent conneting rod 40 in order not to hinder the mounting.

. The operation *of the device is identical and both the sets of teeth I5 and 39 co-operate to;

i5 rtcloserthe fliucket; .ztlieidametersicntnedrum. il: :112.11131 bengsoschosenasitcompensa e .fonthe :fdiiferenceof ratibrbetweenthevtworsetsior teeth.

It. `ShQulf-b.einbseldad-.laat vthe:.comfiectien.f be- -tween thertwordrums' and 31. couldfbe enected :tin a.. diierentzmannerzbyz-usingLonly one1 "setof .-.zteetlr andfforxrexample Mindingrthencablesiixi opyfvfsitrr. dreotionsonzthe; drum.

1 f-Qf ccursenthaactuatmgmecnanism funit-mar theprovidedattheoutset with asliaft 3E, asecond senor teetlnagon the; quadranti-I lzand-.azbent `con- ;-fnectirigg:lr011:40-,`lv anditheseclements would be used or not according-tothe-position'.anditheinumber of the actuating cables.

heimethodfosadaptingsaccordingtdFigsr11 -fvertically--movableplunger' ring 43 adapted i to actuate said pawls 42-bymeans of slots "43er (see f 11a).

" *Gn a cross-piece 44-formingfan abutment, Asupported by thefcasingsifrests, preferably by means l of a spring 45, a slider .4.6. through which., passes `rthe liftingfcable I and which is provided with a nose '41 'adapted to engage the pawl 42 of the crown 4I.

To the slider 46 are pivotally connected two rods 48 which are connected at their other end to the two levers 24 located on either side of the drum I2 (see Fig. 13), and a second cross-piece forming an abutment 49, likewise` supported by the casings 4, is adapted tocorne into contact with the movable ring 43 of the crown 4 I.

Finally, the drum I2 is provided at the side with a. ratchet -wheel 5D which is adapted to come into engagement with a pawl 5I supported by the shaft 26 and rotated by means of stops 52 secured to the shaft 26, and 53 secured to the pawl 5I and with the interpolation of a spring 54.

The device operates as follows: when the bucket is being lifted in the closed state as represented on Fig. 11, it comes into contact with the opening crown 4I, the slider 46 comesinto said crown and the support 49 engages the ring 43 in an upward movement which. allows the pawls 42 supported by the crown 4I and which are no more in contact with the upper end of the slots 43a, to rotate by gravity, said pawls thus engaging under the nose 41 provided on the slider 46 (see Fig. 11b).

By slackening the lifting cable I, the bucket moves downwards and the slider 46 resting against the pawls 42 (Fig. 12), the lever 24 rotates and causes the bucket to open and the pawl 5I to rotate towards the ratchet wheel 50. When the opening of the bucket is completed, the pawl 5i rests against the ratchet wheel 50.

If a pull is then exerted on the cable I, the drum I2 drives the ratchet wheel 5l), one of the teeth of which comes into contact with the pawl 5I and prevents the bucket from closing again (Fig. 12) 'Ihe bucket is then lifted slightly, the nose 41 moves out of contact with the pawls 42, the ring 4 3 falls downwards by gravity and causes the pawls 42 to rotate towards their retracted position -(see Fig. 12a) and to release the slider l the cable `I iseslackened, the'pawll is lretracted by thevacti'onfoff-the `springl 5-2v and releases- `the closing drum? I2 A;` vthe bucket-can then 'befclosed again.

"-It'can'be seen that-in this=caseialso all the "essential elements ofithemechanism remain the esa-me andthe new elementsccan be *add-ed with- Ho-ut any modiiicati'on of the-device itself.

In Fig-.d4 thefadaptationiof the --device @to an electrically Vactuated bucket is shown. Inbthis ycase thesliaft'i is driven by a worm `wheel 55 which replaces' the drum -I2 andv meshes with af-worm 56" which is driven-through a' power ylimi-ting :device '5l sof' any type by an"I electric -motor 58 supported `by a cross-member59 fixed A.tothe casingI 4.

'The mechanisms inside the casings- 4 aren-nchangedand only an abutment (not shown'ris Iof said elements. and a drum for said hoisting cable, which comprises a central box-like member to lwhich Vsaid'eleme'nts are .pivotally connected, a stationary crownfand a -movable pawl device supported by said box-like member and i adapted to engage said crown, a rocking toothed quadrant carried by said box-like member, a pinion meshing with said toothed quadrant and connected to said drum, a system of rods connected at one end to the pivots of said grappling elements and, at the other end, to two pins xed at two eccentric points of said quadrant and a system of levers connected at one end to said pawl device and, at the other end, to a pivot fixed at an eccentric point of said quadrant, and pivotally carried by said box-like member.

2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a toothed wheel secured to said drum and a resilient retracting pawl adapted to engage, in the open position, said toothed wheel.

3. An operating device for grab mechanism of the type comprising two grappling elements, a hoisting cable for controlling the closing motion of said elements, a drum for said hoisting cable and means for controlling the opening motion of said elements, which comprises a central box-like member to which said elements are pivotally connected, a rocking toothed quadrant carried by said box-like member, a pinion meshing with said toothed quadrant and connected to said drum, a system of rods connected at one end to the pivots of said grappling elements and, at the other end, to two pins iiXed at two eccentric points of said quadrant, a system of levers connected at one end to said means for controlling the opening motion of the grappling elements and, at the other end, to a pivot Xed at an eccentric point of said quadrant, and pivotally carried by said box-like member, an abutment carried by said drum and a retractable pawl controlled by said system of levers and adapted to engage said abutment in the closed position.

4. An operating device for grab mechanism comprising a central box-like member, two grappling elements pivotally connected to said member, a drum carried by said member, a

hoisting cable for controlling the closing motion of said grappling elements adapted to wind on said drum, a rocking toothed quadrant carried by said member, a pinion connected to said drum and meshing with said quadrant, rods connected at one end to said grappling elements and at the other end to two eccentric points of said quadrant, a system of levers pivotally carried by said member and connected at one end to an eccentric point of said quadrant and means for controlling the opening motion of said grappling elements and adapted to engage the other end of said system of levers.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for controlling the opening motion of said grappling elements comprises a cable fixed to the corresponding end of said system of levers.

6. An operating device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said box-like member comprises a casing filled with oil and housing said rocking quadrant, pinion, rods and the portion of said system of levers connecting said quadrant to said box-like member.

7. An operating device for grab mechanism comprising two grappling elements, a central boxlike member, a drum carried by said member, a hoisting cable for controlling the closing motion of said elements and adapted to Wind on said drum, a pair of shafts pivotally mounted on said member and carrying said grappling elements. a third shaft Divotally mounted on said member, actuating levers rigidly mounted on said third shaft, and means for controlling the opening motion of said grappling elements and adapted to engage the free ends of said levers, said box-like member comprising on each side of said drum two parallel and identical casings lled with oil, connected together by tubular sleeves and each containing a rocking toothed quadrant, a pinion meshing with said quadrant and connected to said drum, rods connected at one end to said pair of shafts carrying said grappling elements and at the other end to two eccentric points of said quadrant, and a system of levers connected at one end to an eccentric point, of said quadrant and a the other end to said third shaft.

'PIERRE JEAN-MARIE THEODORE AiLARD.

References Cited in -the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 138,227 Both Apr. 29, 1373 226,557 Seward Apr. 13, 1880 779,512 Williams Jan. 10, 1905 1,031,270 Jones July 2, 1912 1,066,978 Babbitt July 8, i913 1,276,143 Weickel Aug. 20, 1918 1,331,455 Case Feb. 17, 1920 1,966,199 Coiey July 10, 1934 2,255,033 Allard Sept. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 643,672 Germany Feb. 11,' 1934 

